A Spiritual Awakening

Harmony and Unity

I have memories of a time in this country when there was harmony and unity of purpose in the hearts and minds of almost every American. We had a national goal and virtually all of us were devoted to the accomplishment of that goal. Each of us, in our own way, felt a responsibility to contribute to the success of our national effort and was willing to put forth the effort to help achieve our national goal.

The unifying force behind that harmony and unity of purpose was the Second World War; we had a fight on our hands and knew we had to win it and win it we did. The enemy was clearly identified, Germany in Europe and Japan in the Pacific; there was no question about their identity and certainly no questions about the required outcome. We had to win!

Well, that was then and this is now; today I see a divided nation split on many issues some of which didn’t even exist during the Second World War. We seem to be a nation that has lost its moral compass, a nation foundering in a morass of moral relativism. To me, however, the most alarming aspect of our situation today is the anger, the aggressive hostility that seems to permeate many elements of our society today.

“You can’t Make aSilk Purse out of a Sow’s Ear” (but God can)

Those who reject the Bible and the God who gave us the Bible invariably experience a major problem with human organization; they overlook the spiritual death of the fallen human creation. Mankind is not inherently good, it is inherently evil; this does not mean fallen man can do no good, they can perform relatively good acts in spite of their fallen nature but their sinful nature is the primary force in their life.

All mankind is born spiritually dead and only by the new birth through faith in Jesus Christ can anyone be born again to spiritual life. Everyone who is not a Christian is spiritually dead and has no hope of spiritual life short of the new birth by faith in Jesus Christ as Savior. Although we all start out as a sow’s ear those of us who are born again by faith in Jesus Christ become a child of God and a temple of God, the Holy Spirit, a vast improvement over a silk purse I would say.

As always the Bible offers an explanation and a solution to the problem described. In Galatians 5:13-26 we find the problem described and a solution given.

“13 For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don’t use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead, use your freedom to serve one another in love.14 For the whole law can be summed up in this one command: “Love your neighbor as yourself.” 15 But if you are always biting and devouring one another, watch out! Beware of destroying one another.

16 So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives. Then you won’t be doing what your sinful nature craves.17 The sinful nature wants to do evil, which is just the opposite of what the Spirit wants. And the Spirit gives us desires that are the opposite of what the sinful nature desires. These two forces are constantly fighting each other, so you are not free to carry out your good intentions.18 But when you are directed by the Spirit, you are not under obligation to the law of Moses.

19 When you follow the desires of your sinful nature, the results are very clear: sexual immorality, impurity, lustful pleasures,20 idolatry, sorcery, hostility, quarreling, jealousy, outbursts of anger, selfish ambition, dissension, division,21 envy, drunkenness, wild parties, and other sins like these. Let me tell you again, as I have before, that anyone living that sort of life will not inherit the Kingdom of God.

22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!

24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there.25 Since we are living by the Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives.26 Let us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.”

Those who are not born again have no choice but to follow the guidance of their sin natures because their human spirits are dead. It is only by the new birth, being born again, that the Holy Spirit restores the human spirit to life and takes up residence alongside the restored human spirit.

A Twenty-First Century Spiritual Awakening

It is because of this stumbling block, the sinful nature, that a spiritual awakening will be needed if the United States is to adequately recover from this sinful malaise in which we are wallowing. History records a number of periods of spiritual revival in the United States; each century has seen times of spiritual awakening, perhaps it is now time for a 21st century spiritual awakening.